The Impostor Queen // This Book + Me = IT’S TRUE LOVE

Oh oh ohhhh, it’s time for me to absolutely shriekmy love for this marvellous novel. SHRIEK I TELL YOU. It is just that good and I seriously…what even are words? How do I use them? AHHHHHH.

For the first 100-pages I was actually dubious. I’ve read two other Sarah Fine books and been “meh” about them. But The Impostor Queen? I SHALL BE HERE FLAILING LIKE A DERANGED GRAPE IF YOU NEED ME.

And obviously I’m going to give you a list of reasons why you must read it NOW. Because books this good DESERVE LIST LOVE.

(Most of my reviews are lists these days???? And I’m not even sorry.)

It is an epic fantasy with epic world building that makes it the best of mostly ever. I usually find YA fantasies lacking in world building? BUT NOPE HERE. The world was detailed and large and kind of terrifying, to be honest. I love it, but I’m not moving there.

Magic system = SO MUCH WIN. It does use elements, which usually bores me because eeeverybody uses elements gosh darnit. BUT THE IMPOSTOR QUEEN DOES IT DIFFERENTLY. (Which is how the great books are born.) A person either has a little bit of ice or fire or both…and if you have both you can balance them and be fabulous. The queen (Valtia) is like THE most powerfully balanced magic wielder in the world and keeps the people safe, the seasons controlled, etc and etc. Elli, the next queen, has exactly no magic. (That’s in the blurb, so not a spoiler.) Aka, she’s so screwed.

Also I liked how the “chosen one” trope was turned on it’s head. Elli isn’t a dead loss…but she’s not chosen the way everyone thinks she is.

Elli, herself, was entirely admirable. Although not my favourite? I think she was nearly too perfect. Oh don’t get me wrong, she made mistakes and said the wrong things and ALL THAT. But she wanted to try so hard and did everything and she was brave and honourable and hardworking and…seriously woman. I feel like a gnat. I just didn’t find her relatable?

By the way, small surprise here: I REALLY JUST LOVE BOOKS ABOUT QUEENS. I want to be queen. So that’s probably why.

As for the story line: I WAS NEVER BORED. NEVER. It’s slowish at the beginning but so so interesting. And omg it has wicked end-of-chapter-cliff-hangers. I seriously spent half my time going “I’m stopping after this chapter”…only to read like half the ENTIRE BOOK because I could stop. Couldn’t stop I tell you. It has survivals and torture and ceremonies and running and freezing and wars and rebels and bandit caves and gahhhh SO MUCH STUFF OF AWESOME.

I also want to admit it feels like a violent YA dark version of Disney’s Frozen. Okay, that sounds weird, I admit. BUT IT WORKS FOR ME. They wield ice and the love-interest is a big bearish (but secretly marshmallow) guy like Kristoff. And Elli totally has an Anna/Elsa vibe. And the culture was all snowy and Slavic. SO THERE.

But a brief note on the names: At the beginning I was “wahhhh what is this” but the names are honestly weird but still edible. There are different words for the queen (Valtia) and then the people are call the Kapari, and the enemy is the Soturi. (I think I’ve got all that right???) The characters are named: Elli, Oskar, Sig, Freya, Maarika, Tuuli, Aira, Raimo, Kukka, Senja… But I handled it.

But let us pause for a moment to embrace the dorky adorableness that is: OSKARRRRRR. Okay Oskar is like a moody bear, but he’s so kind and sweet and TRAGIC. Yes, he has a tragic backstory. And he cares for his mother and sister like nothing else. WHICH IS SO AFJDKALFSD. His and Elli’s romance is slow and complex and a very small sub-plot to the story overall. They’re both actually focused on FIGHTING first. Potential kissing second.

And I shall mention my second darling who’s name is Sig and he’s horrible. He’s a raging inferno of flames and temper temper temper. But I accidentally adore him? He and Elli clash like nothing else, but he and Oskar grew up together. LIKE I WANT A BOOK ON THEIR BACKSTORY YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU. I loved Sig because he was hot-tempered, tortured, and passionate.

I’m literally exhausted with all this intense fangirling.

Actually I’m exhausted because I LOVED THE BOOK SO MUCH. (Epic fantasy is my darling and when I find a super super super good one, my life is just cake.)

Basically this book is everything excellent you could want. Good writing. Good excitement. Good torture. (That makes no sense but go with it.) And good twists on normally average plot devices. The characters are amazing — all of them are complex and dimensional! There are plot twists and freaktastic descriptions. TORTURE AND BLEEDING. Also MAGIC AND MAYHEM.

But I’m crying because it’s an entire year until the sequel.

DUDES. THIS BOOK AND I ARE TRUE LOVE.

LITERALLY ME RIGHT NOW ~ I WILL MARRY A BOOK I JUST MET

THANK YOU TO SIMON & SCHUSTER AUS FOR THE REVIEW COPY. The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine was published January, 2016.

Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule. But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found. Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.

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which genre is your ultimate weakness?? (spoiler: mine is fantasy) and do you have an author you felt “meh” about … but then turned into a rabid fan of?!? LET ME KNOW ALL IN THE COMMENTS!! also of course you’re going to read The Impostor Queen. i just know it. but if you have already, what did you think?!?

Historical is my ultimate weakness, which is a bit weird, since I don’t actually read a lot of it. I read a lot of contemporary and fantasy, and I love them both, but a historical book is probably twice as likely to make it onto my to-read list. I don’t know about an author I’ve completely changed my opinion of…maybe E. Lockhart? I read The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and I wasn’t a fan, and then I LOVED We Were Liars. But I haven’t read anything else by her since then, so I don’t know.

I wasn’t sure whether I was going to pick up The Impostor Queen – it doesn’t QUITE sound like the kind of book I’d usually go for – but after hearing so many good things from people, this review decided it. I need to read this book. I NEED a fantasy where the romance is a small subplot.

I barely ever read HF either, but I DO SO LOVE IT. It’s probably not my weakness…buuut, I grew up on it and that’s why I have a special soft spot of it. hehe. OMG I LOVED WE WERE LIARS TOO!! And I’ve heard bad things about The Disreputable History so I’ve decided to leave my E Lockhart experience at just We Were Liars for now.😂

OMG, I NEED TO READ THIS BOOK SO BADLY. It sounds really really really good, and I love the cover, especially the mask-ish thing at the bottom corner. *drools over book* And your book photos look so delicious. (I also have the same kind of flowers on my table right now, so bonus points.) But yes, I need this book.

For my ultimate genre weakness, it would have to be Science Fiction, and specifically, anything dystopian. I just need all the cool books, like, right now. But my second favorite genre would be fantasy, and I’ve been starting a fantasy binge, so that’s been fun.

*sneaks into your house and steals your copy of The Imposter Queen* *steals your crown and throne as well* *and also steals your cake*

IT IS REALLY REALLY GOOD, LIZ. I PROMISE. And omg the cover is like my favourite…which is weird because usually faces on covers are like a no-no to me?!?? But this just takes it to the next level of INTENSE AWESOME. *hyperventilates quietly*

Sci/Fi and Dystopian ARE quite awesome, but tbh, I haven’t read enough sci-fi SO I NEED TO FIX THAT EVENTUALLY.

Fantasy is my weakness. I actually did not fall in LOVE with the Archived but ADSOM and Vicious made Victoria Schwab my favourite author. And THIS BOOK SOUNDS SO GREAT AAAAAH. I love writing about royalty too … probably because of the brainwashing. Huh.

I have the Archived to read..aaand ADSOM. Like every day I keep telling myself to read it!? But literally I’ve scared myself with all the hype.😂 AHEM. (But seriously this week Me + ADSOM = gonna happen.)

You absolutely HAVE to read ADSOM this week because next Monday 9 PM EST the author herself will be joining #ADSOMreadalong and we can ask her ALLLLL the questions. EEEK. If you can hop on Twitter … YOU SHOULD. I’ll definitely be there.

Idk what my weakness is when it comes to books. Because I will read any YA book if I’m interested in it, to be honest. And now I REALLY want to read The Imposter Queen. *sighs* If this keeps up, I’m going to drown in my TBR.

Caaaaait, I so need this book in my life! It sounds so good, and I’ve heard nothing but praise for it! God, it sounds so good! High/epic fantasy is what got me into reading, so I have a huge weakness for high fantasy, though I don’t read as much as I used to. Trying to get back into it this year. And I neeeed this book!

Great review! I really want to read this now!! I saw it at the start of the year and was like eeeehhhhh should I? Shouldn’t I? But clearly the answer is yes. My favooouurite genre is YA Fantasy – although historical fiction comes at a pretty close second. Anything with dragons, man, anything (dragons = chocolate-levels-of-yes). I can’t think if I’ve ever had an author where I was a bit ‘meh’ to start with – there were plenty of authors who I wouldn’t have read if someone hadn’t prodded me with a stick (such as Sarah J. Maas, Renée Ahdieh, Julie Kagawa, and Leigh Bardugo) because I’d be like yeah, yeah, I’ll get around to them, #LessonLearnt.

But let’s just take a moment to die over the fact that you said a darker Frozen, I’M SO THERE. Bring Disney into anything and I’m sold. Literally: “Hey Kirstie, here’s a book about a turtle and flies to space, it’s loosely based of Pinocchio” – I would buy it.

The answer IS most definitely yes. *nods* You are wise to perceive this for SURE. (Omg literally the only thing this book is missing is dragons!!) Omggg, I love love love Rene Ahdieh!! She’s basically jumped from “who the heck is that” to “FAVOURITE AUTHOR OF EVER” in like 3 chapters of The Wrath and the Dawn. XD

I love fantasy so much. Also historical fiction. Thy are my faves. I don’t know… I didn’t really love Tamora Pierce the first time I read her then I read Protector of the Small and I WAS IN LOVE. (you should read Tamora Pierce= epic girl power fantasy with animals and fighting) The Imposter Queen sounds great! I wasn’t really a fan of The Orphan Queen by JOdi Meadows so now i’m wary of Queen titles. BUT I WILL OVERCOME IT. I loved the fire and ice ideas in snow like ashes, and this sounds totally different but equally awesome. Thanks for the revieew!

So I have NEVER read Tamora Pierce?!? If I do, I’ll know where to start. 😀 Ohhh, I have THe orphan Queen to read soon. I’ve heard that cliffhanger is wicked too, so tbh, I’m waiting until the next book is out so if I need it I can buy it straight away. I AM A WIMP. XD

If a fantasy book is good, it can swallow me.
Gallagher Girls made me feel “kind of meh” about Ally Carter, BUT EMBASSY ROW IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE SERIES EVER!!!! XD
I need to read this. Love the character names too – very Norse/Scandanavian.

YES TO FANTASIES SWALLOWING PEOPLE. I am always happily swallowed by a book. :’) *Whispers* and I feel the same about Ally Carter! I mean, I’m not as in love with Embassy Road as you, but I definitely think it’s better than GG.

“I also want to admit it feels like a violent YA dark version of Disney’s Frozen” THAT’S IT. I’M HEADING TO THE LIBRARY! SEE YAH!

seriously though, after that sentence, I was pretty much sold on this book. it sounds so AWESOME! although first i’ll have to finish all those other library books I checked out….later. I SHALL DEVOUR THIS ONE FIRST!

Oh dear! I’m a silly little hooman… I was migrating to a WordPress site and I think I kept putting in my old blog address. Oh Botha.

Currently everything is down for a revamp/launch which will hopefully be soon! Until then if you’re interested in lil ole me, I’m on Instagram as anovelowl and you can see some of my reviews at newleafbooknook.com!!

I very clearly need to read this book. It will hopefully get me out of my book rut. I think it’s mostly last month’s fault. Last month I read 37 books! This month I had read…five. Not my greatest month ever. IF I’M TO READ FOUR HUNDRED BOOKS THIS YEAR, I NEED TO READ MORE THAN FIVE BOOKS THIS MONTH.

But this sounds seriously epic. And a darker, violent version of Frozen is actually a good way to sell it to me, because now I’m totally curious and want to see why it’s a darker, violentier (is that a word? I don’t think so) version of Frozen. GIVE IT TO ME NOW, LIBRARY.

Awk, book ruts are sucky. *pets shoulder and feeds you cake* Maybe you’re just worn out from last month’s feat? (WHICH IS INCREDIBLE BTW, AND I AM ASTOUNDED. My biggest reading month has been 31 I think.) OMG BUT 400 BOOKS?!? YOU CRAZY FIEND. I’M ROOTING FOR YOU.

And heheh, I wondered if the Frozen pitch would be too weird? But I honestly couldn’t stop thinking about it while I read. And I LOVE Frozen, so it appeals to me to pitch it that way.😂

AHHHHHH! A dark Frozen story… Huh. I kind of love that idea 😀 SO YES SIGN ME UP *rolls*
I wasn’t sure about this book, it kind of made me feel “meh,” but YOU CONVINCED ME. I WILL RIDE TO THE LIBRARY AND DEMAND THE IMPOSTOR QUEEN MWHAHAHAHA.
Plus why are you pictures so beautiful XD THEY ARE OH MY GAWSH ASDFGHJK.
Lovely review 🙂 have a great day!

My weakness is fantasy, but it has to be good. Like Daughter of Smoke & Bone good… and, sadly, books like that are few and far between.

I don’t think I’ve really read any “meh” authors that turned into “yay!” authors for me. If I’m not that impressed with the first book I read, I’ll probably not read another (and, in the cases where I have, my opinion has gone down… not up).

This looks like an interesting one, though. The Scandinavian influences sound cool.

You do have pretty high standards, right?! WHICH IS AWESOME, DOn’T GET ME WRONG. *nods* But DOSAB is definitely something else…tbh, I’ve never read anything that I can confidently compare it to. It’s just that good. :’)

I try to always read at least two books by one author. I mean, unless I LOATHED it with the fire of a thousand suns. If I’m all “meh” about it, then I’ll try again. Although, tbh, I picked this one up mainly because of premise and only afterward realised the author was one I’d read two books by and hadn’t been impressed. I’m glad I gave it the chance though!!

Ok, I waited far too long to read this. I mean, I was waiting for some review because I wasn’t sure if this is what I want to read right now, but damn your review did the job! Hopefully, I will like it as much as you because there isn’t a worse thing than a book with queens and kingdoms and magic that is bad. Even though it sounds like an impossible thing, it happened to me and it was terrible. But at the same time, I’m a little bit scared because you review raised my expectations :/

AHHH I WOULD SAY SORRY BUT I’M NOT. 😂 But I do get it!! Sometimes too high of expectations is really really awkwardly bad. Ahem. So yes. Caaalm your expectations and just go in neutral. 😂 IF THAT’S POSSIBLE, hehe. (And I have read horribly written fantasies with queens/magic too, so it does happen, sadly. *sighs*)

So, Cait, do you like the book, or LIKE like it? It’s not really clear. 😛

My weakness is extremely well written YA fantasy. Seems like this book fits that description. And OMG dark Frozen? GIVE ME COPY!!!!!! EM NEED BOOK!!!!

Also, I felt kind of meh at first when I read City of Bones. Then I read City of Ashes, re-read City of Bones, and decided I was absolutely in love. I’m a big believer in giving books, authors, and series second chances.

I know it was very very verrrrrry reserved in this review. SO HARD TO TELL MY FEELINGS. *flails dramatically*

ahem. 😂

BUT YES. DARK FROZEN. GET THEE TO FINDING A COPY. And omg, I don’t think I mentioned this in my recent TMI post, but I actually DNF’d City of Bones the first time I tried to read it! I just didn’t click? But then I saw the movie, came back, and was so in love and now Cassandra Clare is like one of my ALL TIME favourite authors. xD

Ah, this book must be set in Finland, those are all Finnish names 🙂 Kukka means flower, Tuuli means Wind, and Soturi means army, for example. How cool! I hardly ever find books set in Finland, I love that it’s a sort of dark version of Frozen!!! I will definitely give this a read, I love your enthusiasm 🙂 x

Soturi actually means a warrior but otherwise you’re right 🙂 I LOVE the fact that the book is set in a Finland inspired world! That hardly ever happens, which makes me super excited! It’s such a shame not more of our books are/can be translated to English, most notably Väinö Linna’s Tuntematon sotilas is practicaly untranslatable if that’s even a word 😀 That’s because the dialects play such an important role in the book. If you’re interested in books by finnish authors, I recommend Emmi Itäranta’s Memory of water. It’s a beautiful novel about a girl who hides a water source at a time that water is strictly controlled, because her father told her to. And tea seremony also plays a big part in the story. Anyways, definitely piqued my interest. Adding to my TBR and definitely buying once I’m done with my book buying ban!

@A-P: I honestly think more books should be translated!! I would love to read more books written by Finnish authors!! I think, apart from this fantasy-inspired one, I’ve only read one book EVER that’s had a Finnish character? Omg thank you for that recommendation! I’ll look it up. 😀

I hope the character wasn’t that one from Kiera Cass’s The heir. We got quite the laugh from Henry Jaakoppi 😀 Our dystopian horror images came true, we were part of Sweden again! Anyways, I have a post request. I was hoping you could do a post where in the comments people could recommend books that are translated from their mother tounge to English 🙂 No pressure or anything, it was just an idea that popped in to my mind but one that I would LOVE to see executed!

For fans of The Winner’s Curse and Shadow & Bone?! I’M IN! (Although I don’t know if I want a repeat of the pain & heartbreak of TWC. Guess we’ll have to see.) This sounds like such an amazing fantasy novel. The world and characters sound really well developed and I love how it emphasizes on the focus of not being “the chosen one.” In a genre like fantasy, that’s definitely something we don’t see very often. Definitely going to give this a try – thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous review! ♥

I think my genre weakness is probably fantasy too. I go through phases when I’m really hard on fantasy books, or really easy on them. Even when I recognize how cliched a fantasy book is, sometimes I can overlook it in light of other things I like, since I tend to already like fantasy tropes. But when I read a lot of it, soon I want it done in a different way, so I’m harder to please. And then I cycle all the way around again. I guess because the cliches are kind of like my comfort zone level? It’s kind of ridiculous and I’m not sure if that actually makes any sense. :/

AHH THANK YOU. <3 I really loved how these photos turned out. *sniffles happily* Ahem. But omg fantasy is the most delicious thing of my LIFE. But I do get tired of it? Like not tired-this-is-all-dumb...actually physically brianishly EXHAUSTED. I think fantasy needs you to concentrate more than, say, contemporaries, right?

It does make sense! I think it depends on which tropes we enjoy, as readers, right?! Like I'm so down with the hidden royalty trope. I can read it a zillion times and still love it. <3 But other tropes I just roll my eyes if they come up too much.

Dystopian. Hands down. But since trends have long since moved on from hungry children and revolutions, mild fantasy with kingdoms and oppressive rule would be my next choice. They’re pretty close actually, apart from the magic and fantasy is a bit more flamboyant. I always struggle with the world building as it feels like the reader is dropped into the middle of a conversation and ain’t no one coming back from that smushy. But this sound glorious, apart from the characters not actually singing Let It Go. I need this book! Awesome review pocket smushy, I shall go forth and purchase this in my next buying spree.

Ooh, the dystopians do seem to have burnt themselves out a bit and fled, don’t they? Andything with an oppressive rulership is, of course, glorious. I’m taking tips. *flips hair majestically* But YUS, fantasy does have that habit of tossing you in blind and then leaving you to drown in a new culture with no help. :O This one does that a LITTLE??? But it only took me like 3 chapters to get into the swing of things.

Omg, I should’ve deducted a star in the rating for no singings of Let it Go. SHAME ON THE IMPOSTOR QUEEN FOR THIS FAILING.

…Deranged grape? And I want a change to the chosen one trope SO BADLY! You have convinced me with that. I like the trope but I also hate it? It’s a complicated relationship. AND FROZEN IS MY FAVORITE DISNEY MOVIE YEP IM READING THIS BYE

You seriously need to stop posting such amazing book reviews or I’m going to be broke, BROKE I TELL YOU!! This sounds so amazing – just from reading what you said it almost has a Game of Thrones feel to it (icy Jon Snow-esqueness??). I will look into it, but I’m already reading the Mortal Instruments (thanks to you) and so it’s going to have to sit on my to-read-maybe-sometime-in-the-far-future list. But thank you for the fantastic review anyhow! 😀 (but seriously stop it) 😛

I KNOW I’M TERRIBLE😂 But I promise there is a lower-starred review coming later this week. I will save you and your TBR. 😉 Ahem. And YES. I suppose it does have a bit of a GoT feel…but not in a “I’m trying to be the YA GoT” which is so so good because I hate it when books try that. 😂 But John Snow would definitely fit into this society. hehe.

THIS BOOK SOUNDS FANTASTIC, CAIT! I’ve had it in my sights for quite some time; however, I’ve been unable to get to it. But I am dying to read it – especially after your review. The characters sound absolutely brilliant and magical. Not to mention, your description of it being a dark YA version of Frozen, which sounds kickass tbh. I want to find out more about this Sig, he sounds so intriguing c:

YOU NEED IT LIKE 10000% I PROMISE. *nods wildly* And omg the characters just totally stole my heart in all the frozen bearishness. And it was so so kickass, omg. Plus I’m not afraid to admit I love Frozen so so much. 😂 ALSO SIG. <3 I would read an entire book about him, tbh.

Fantasy all the way!! It will forever remain my one true love! May I just say THIS BOOK SOUNDS FLIPPING AMAZING It has everything I could ever ask for, except maybe dragons, which are kind of a necessity, but I’ll let it slide because your review was PERFECT! I must read this book now, MUST!!!!!!!

This book sounds AMAZING!!!! I absolutely love fantasy and I love it when the world building s on point. I just had to DNF a book because there was NO word building. I mean, seriously, the author would just use random weird words and give no explanation as to what they meant. It was like reading another language, which just irritated me. This one sounds pretty awesome.

UGh, that sounds like an awful book??! I wouldn’t have survived either. :O Like I was a bit lost starting off with The Impostor Queen…but I felt it did try to guide you into it and didn’t just level a billion new words at me to start off with. But it definitely got easier as it went along. *nods*

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING AND YOUR DESCRIPTION AND REVIEW OF THIS DOES AS MUCH JUSTICE TO THIS BOOK AS ANYTHING EVER WILL – also, Oskar? Big fuzzy bear-like Oskar? (That was my impression of him, okay, don’t judge…) It’s so rare to find a male love interest like that anymore, what with all the cocky but secretly soft-hearted guys taking up the space. The funny thing is, guys like Oskar are really exactly what I’d want in real life! Someone to cuddle with….. (those scenes were seriously the cutest.) And there were twists and torture – which I think completed the book and made it really well-rounded. It balanced out the story, and showed how Elli as a person, as a woman, grew through the book. She was weak, and she grew strong….(er).

FJDALSKFD THANK YOU, HELEN. 😂 YOU DELIGHTFUL BEAN. Oskar was undoubtedly a bit fuzzy bear of adorableness and gruffness. <3 And true! Most love interests are the cocky chaps these days (not that I'm complaining...but Oskar was refreshing. :') HE WAS AN ADORABLE CUDDLY TEDDY BEAR THAT IS ALL. (I mean with the potential of death??? So there's that...)

Urgh I need this book, especially because the map it comes with looks most gorgeous. This is a greatly important thing to me.
I have heard such consistently great things about this, and am so pumped! I’m usually let down a bit by YA royalty because I am kinda like WHERE IS THE BLOODSHED AND TREACHERY? Ahem, too much GoT has addled my brain. I never knew I wanted a violent version of Frozen until I saw this post haha.

MAP LURVE. <333 Seriously I have such a map fetish. I want to learn how to draw epic fantasy maps like that. Ahem. But SQUEE. You will not be letdown in the bloodshed/treachery/torture department here.😂

I saw this at Barnes and Noble and so wanted to get it! I love the concept of the two elements being balanced and making the “chosen one” and yeah, I love that it was turned on it’s head! However, I read the first couple chapters and didn’t really like the main character. Like you said, she seemed almost too good and that grated on me. I decided to put it back but I think I’ll be going back for it soon since I’ve heard some great things about it!

AHHH YES YOU NEED TO READ THIS, ASHTYN!! I mean, it sort of plays around with the “Chosen one” trope…so it’s still tHERE. But it’s really hard to talk about without spoilers so I shall shush.😂 But I DID love all the twists on the average-tropes. EEEEP.

This sounds like a really good book. Those names are really interesting, really unique. But your description of the magic system is what makes me curious, I love complicated magic processes and all that, I can’t wait to read what twist they added to this book 😀 Thanks for the review Cait!

OMG!!! I NEED THIS BOOK!!! IT SOUNDS EPIC!!! Ahhhh. Thanks… now my endless TBR just got a little bit more endless. It sounds like a read I am just going to absolutely love. But then I will be devastated by the wait for the sequel… so maybe I should just wait. I HATE HAVING TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR THINGS >.<

It is a genuine concern of mine that in 2016, I’ll read NOTHING BUT CAIT-RECOMMENDED BOOKS! I’m not even joking about this. The past few I’ve read were, like, the Seven Realms series, The Accident Season, Disruption, Corruption, AND NOW THIS?! Whenever GR prompts you to tag whoever ‘recommended’ the book to you, my brain melts into a puddle of anxiety. DO I TAG CAIT IN THIS *AGAIN*? DOES THIS QUALIFY ME AS SOME KIND OF A WEIRD LITERARY STALKER OF ONLY-THE-BOOKISH-VARIETY? IS THERE SUCH A THING?

Basically, YOU CAN REALLY SELL A BOOK. Or we like the same exact things. (Likely the second, because… a longstanding Stiefvater obsession on both sides that has yet to be matched.)

So. Impostor Queen. (Also, those names sound vaguely, um… Nordic? I’ve had a lifelong obsession with Finland (for NO reason whatsoever other than… I DECIDED I’D OBSESS at like 14 and never stopped). They pretty darn Finnish-sounding. So your Frozen-retelling assumption is probably dead accurate. Yup.

I APPROVE OF YOUR HABIT OF READING BOOKS I HAVE SAID YOU MUST, THOUGH. And c’mon now. Have I ever lead you astray? (Spoiler: no of course not.) ERGO YOU ARE PERFECTLY FINE. READ ALL THE BOOKS I DEMAND. *squishes this book in your face* Zomg, tag me all you like!!😂 It absolutely makes my DAY when someone reads a book because I said to. :’) Btw, you need to read My Sister Rosa. Ahem. Just sayin’.

I HEAR YA WITH THE OBSESSION. That is me for, literally, everything. I have an obsession with Paris for exactly no reason. I hear the coffee is good, so that’s positive. BUT I GOTTA GO TO PARIS SOMEDAY JUST BECAUSE OF THIS.

I totally want to read this book . . . . like RIGHT NOW. That’s how most of your reviews make me feel. Fantasy is probably my genre weakness, though it could also be Steampunk (I love well written Steampunk). The author I felt “meh” about at first and then was totally astonished and awed by was Jodi Meadows, author of the Incarnate trilogy and The Orphan Queen. I started reading the first book in the Incarnate trilogy but gave up on it, then months later tried to read it again and fell in love with it and the rest of the trilogy. And then I read The Orphan Queen and was blown away. It’s a book about a queen (hence the title) and it has magic and outlaws and vigilantes and kingdoms in it, so you might want to read it.

SQUEEEEEE. I’m glad my reviews are so convincing.😂 AND OMG FANTASY IS JUST DIVINE. And also, funny you should mention The Orphan Queen, because I just bought it BECAUSE QUEEN. Eeep! And I’m really glad you liked it because that makes me a million percent excited to start it. 😀

I’m actually really loving the sound of this book! I have it, but haven’t started it yet which now sounds like some sort of crime. I recently finished Shadow and Bone and loved it, so knowing there are similarities draws me to this one all the more. Especially as I love epic world building and ti seems like the plot doesn’t disappoint for this one either!

You had me at the first point of your list haha. BUT SERIOUSLY IT’S LIKE A DARK YA FROZEN? Sign me up. Damn I need more time and money (they should put that on my headstone: here lies Michelle, she needed more time and money)